Ekiti Election Battle Takes Dramatic Turn As Tribunal Strikes Out PDP’s Case Against Oyebanji

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate in the June 20, 2026 Ekiti State election, Dr Wole Oluyede, has withdrawn his petition challenging the re-election of Governor Biodun Oyebanji of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

According to Bush Radio Academy, the Ekiti State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal struck out the case on Tuesday at its inaugural sitting in Ado Ekiti after Oluyede and the PDP formally applied to discontinue the matter.

Oluyede’s lawyer, Paul Komolafe, moved the application before the three-member panel headed by Justice Abubakar Idris Kutigi. The legal representatives of Oyebanji, the APC and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) did not oppose the withdrawal, paving the way for the tribunal to strike out the petition.

Speaking after the proceedings, Oluyede explained that his decision was influenced by appeals from people he described as important to him, including President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and several advisers.

He said he believed that withdrawing the petition would allow political stakeholders to focus on the development of Ekiti State and Nigeria rather than continue with prolonged litigation.

Oluyede acknowledged that abandoning the case was not an easy decision because he believed his petition had merit. However, he said he accepted the appeals made to him and was prepared to support efforts aimed at securing victory for President Tinubu in the forthcoming presidential election.

Despite his position, Oluyede stressed that he remained a member of the PDP.

He said, “I am a member of PDP and remain a member, and we have an election in January for President Tinubu.”

The former PDP candidate also disclosed that Governor Oyebanji had reached out to him following the election and extended a hand of friendship.

According to Oluyede, he was willing to work with the governor in the interest of Ekiti State and Nigeria, insisting that the development of the state should not be driven solely by political differences.

INEC had declared Oyebanji the winner of the June 20 governorship election with 319,224 votes, while Oluyede polled 40,543 votes.

Although Oluyede’s legal challenge has now been withdrawn, the governor’s victory is still being challenged by two other candidates. The Social Democratic Party (SDP) and its candidate, Isaac Adebayo Alade, as well as the Action Alliance (AA) and its candidate, Matthew Olu Omotoso, have petitions pending before the tribunal.

The tribunal has fixed Monday, September 14, for the commencement of hearing on the substantive petitions filed by the two parties and their candidates.